For one thing, the similarities between learning and immune functioning are almost eerie.

The most effective treatment I know of for addictions is a form of brainwave biofeedback that teaches people to enter meditative states.

Attention and intention are the keys to most forms of meditation, and meditation has a documented healing effect for many things, such as anxiety and addictions.

Take a look

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/consciousness/

I lean most toward the 9.5 idea

He's a prof emeritus of physics (I think from Oregon State) who brings a very eastern perspective to physics.

You could try his book The Self-Aware Universe for a glimpse into his thinking, although the book is now 20 years old.

And no I have not seen his work but will get it soon.

Thanks again - be well

To answer the question of why consciousness emerged, you have to first determine what evolutionary advantage consciousness confers upon an organism. And the answer is probably going to be pretty straightforward: instinct is rigid, consciousness is flexible.

A conscious organism can weigh the risks and benefits of its actions, and is (theoretically) able to foresee the possible consequences of its actions. Organisms ruled by instinct don't do any of this. They simply act. If their instincts lead them astray, they die.

agree

here is some speculation - http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/consciousness/